Taking NyQuil With Ambien - Interaction Details

Answer

In general, Ambien (zolpidem) should not be combined with other drugs that have a CNS (central nervous system) depressant effect. Since NyQuil contains doxylamine, a sedating antihistamine, it's recommended to not to take it alongside Ambien.

Additional Interaction Details

As Ambien has strong sedative effects, its use with other medications that have a similar effect is not recommended. Per the prescribing information for Ambien:

AMBIEN, like other sedative-hypnotic drugs, has central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects. Co-administration with other CNS depressants (e.g., benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, alcohol) increases the risk of CNS depression. Dosage adjustments of AMBIEN and of other concomitant CNS depressants may be necessary when AMBIEN is administered with such agents because of the potentially additive effects. The use of AMBIEN with other sedative-hypnotics (including other zolpidem products) at bedtime or the middle of the night is not recommended.

Combining Ambien with other CNS depressants has been linked to increased psychomotor impairment, impaired driving abilities the next day, and a higher risk of other potentially dangerous behaviors, like sleep-driving.

NyQuil contains the following ingredients:

• Acetaminophen
• Dextromethorphan
• Doxylamine

NyQuil Severe adds in the nasal decongestant, phenylephrine.

It is the doxylamine in NyQuil that interacts with Ambien.

Doxylamine is a sedating, first-generation antihistamine, very similar to diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl).

On its own, doxylamine has fairly strong sedative effects, and when combined with a drug like Ambien, those effects are potentiated.

How To Manage The Interaction

It is generally recommended to simply avoid taking Ambien and NyQuil together due to their additive sedative effects.

If you are looking for something to take to help alleviate the symptoms of a cold/flu, you can find several over-the-counter options that are not sedating and do not interact with Ambien.

These options include:

• Acetaminophen (pain reliever)
• Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant)
• Phenylephrine (nasal decongestant)
• Guaifenesin (expectorant)

All of the above are commonly used for symptom relief and are perfectly safe to take with Ambien. An issue arises when any of these ingredients are combined with a sedating ingredient (like doxylamine).

Final Words

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